My first bone marrow biopsy revealed 60% plasma cells, 27% by flow cytometry, kappa light chain restricted, and I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma.
Is my percentage of plasma cells an indicator of time of progression to myeloma?
Thank you, San Juan Island Jack
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Re: Percentage of plasma cells
Jackc,
Welcome to the forum. Glad you found this site.
You may want to read the new criteria for diagnosis of symptomatic multiple myeloma that was just put out by the IMWG. See this article for a summary:
S Vincent Rajkumar, "New Criteria For The Diagnosis Of Multiple Myeloma And Related Disorders," The Myeloma Beacon, Oct 26, 2014.
To paraphrase the key point for you regarding the new criteria for symptomatic multiple myeloma:
"The revised IMWG criteria will allow, in addition to the classic CRAB features, the following marker as a “myeloma defining event” (MDE):
Sixty percent or greater clonal plasma cells on bone marrow examination"
If your doctor isn't a multiple myeloma specialist, he/she may not be aware of this brand new criteria that just came out a couple of weeks ago. My local oncologist (who is great, but is not a multiple myeloma specialist), was not aware of these new criteria when I saw him earlier today.
Are you working a hematologist/oncologist that specializes specifically in multiple myeloma? If not and if you let us know where you live, folks on this forum can likely provide you with some recommendations.
Welcome to the forum. Glad you found this site.
You may want to read the new criteria for diagnosis of symptomatic multiple myeloma that was just put out by the IMWG. See this article for a summary:
S Vincent Rajkumar, "New Criteria For The Diagnosis Of Multiple Myeloma And Related Disorders," The Myeloma Beacon, Oct 26, 2014.
To paraphrase the key point for you regarding the new criteria for symptomatic multiple myeloma:
"The revised IMWG criteria will allow, in addition to the classic CRAB features, the following marker as a “myeloma defining event” (MDE):
Sixty percent or greater clonal plasma cells on bone marrow examination"
If your doctor isn't a multiple myeloma specialist, he/she may not be aware of this brand new criteria that just came out a couple of weeks ago. My local oncologist (who is great, but is not a multiple myeloma specialist), was not aware of these new criteria when I saw him earlier today.
Are you working a hematologist/oncologist that specializes specifically in multiple myeloma? If not and if you let us know where you live, folks on this forum can likely provide you with some recommendations.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Percentage of plasma cells
I'm not presently working with a multiple myeloma specialist. I live near Anacortes WA which is 60 miles from Seattle and 25 miles fro Bellingham Wa.
Jack
Jack
Re: Percentage of plasma cells
Jack,
You are in a good area for access to specialists.
You have access to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. Note that Dr. Libby, who is one of the doctors that regularly supports this forum, is there:
https://myelomabeacon.org/resources/treatment-centers/#Washington
I'd really encourage you to seek out a specialist. It's worth the drive.
You are in a good area for access to specialists.
You have access to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. Note that Dr. Libby, who is one of the doctors that regularly supports this forum, is there:
https://myelomabeacon.org/resources/treatment-centers/#Washington
I'd really encourage you to seek out a specialist. It's worth the drive.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1